to Psychosocial Difficulties of Internet Users   This study addressed a common belief that frequent Internet use produces social and psychological difficulties. An Internet - administered survey was given to a sample of Internet users. Comparisons were made between this sample and general population norms on a selection of social and psychological variables. The accompanying Table shows that Internet users showed a more detrimental mean rating on nearly all of the variables (two measures of social contact were more positive among the user sample). However, for those variables for which time of onset was available, the disorder had begun well before Internet use. These findings are not in accord with the theory that Internet use causes disorder or social difficulty, and suggest the possibility that the Internet may provide a particular benefit for certain individuals who have already displayed these personal and social problems. Source: Modayil MV, Thompson AH,Varnhagen S, Wilson DR (2003). Internet Users' Prior Psychological and Social Difficulties. Cyberpsychology and Behavior 6(6), 585-590.  Click here for a copy.    Social Problems Menu